Last Spike in the News

8-8-2012

The descendants of Sir William Van Horne, the railway baron who led the construction of the CPR recently donated one of the ceremonial “last spikes” that were driven in1885 to the Canadian Museum of Civilization. For a community reaction to this news, please read below a letter written to The Globe and Mail by Avvy Go, the Clinic Director of the Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic:

Collective amnesia

The silver spike is not the only thing missing from the iconic “Last Spike” photo that so famously depicts the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railroad (Railway’s Iconic Silver Spike Joins Museum – June 15). Missing also are the thousands of Chinese Canadians who gave their hard labour – and some, their lives – to the building of Canada.

For far too long, the contribution of Chinese Canadians in the construction of the CPR has been ignored. One had hoped that the apology by the Canadian government in 2006 for the racist laws imposed on the Chinese right after the last spike was driven would help remind Canadians of our community’s contribution to the building of our nation. Yet, it seems the collective amnesia about the sacrifices and hard work remains.

Perhaps, alongside this last spike, the Museum of Civilization should also display information about the history of Chinese Canadians in Canada, including their role in building the CPR, and the subsequent discriminatory treatment afforded them by the government.